Cattle Passports

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications for cattle passports were rejected for being out of time in each year since 2000.

Jim Knight: The 27 day deadline for submitting a cattle passport application is a requirement of the Cattle Identification Regulations 1998. It has been strictly enforced since 21 November 2003. Before that date, a less rigorous approach was taken.
	Applications received after the deadline are rejected. However the animals are registered on the Cattle Tracing System and are fully traceable.
	In the period from 28 September 1998 to 20 November 2003, a total of 5,832 passport applications were rejected because they were not received within the legal time limits and the identity and traceability of the animal could not be established. These figures cannot be broken down into years.
	The number of applications rejected since 21 November 2003 is as follows:
	
		
			  Rejected(1) 
		
		
			 2003 3,552 
			 2004 20,869 
			 2005(2) 10,058 
		
	
	(1) These figures do not include applications which were late but also failed validation for various other reasons. For example dam calf validation problems, for instance calved too soon, or lack of mandatory info e.g. breed or sex.
	(2) Up to 16 October 2005.

Coastal Defences

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what forms of renewable soft sea defences, other than groynes and shingle banks, are being employed for coastal protection around the English coastline.

Elliot Morley: Defra has overall policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk in England, funds most of the Environment Agency's flood management activities (including for flooding from the sea) and provides grant aid on a project by project basis to local authorities for their coastal defence improvement projects. Defra does not build defences, direct the authorities on which specific projects to undertake nor in general specify the materials and techniques to be used.
	The Government encourage authorities to consider a variety of options when considering solutions. A key point is that authorities should work with natural processes wherever possible and the use of beaches to absorb wave energy is a widely used "soft" technique. However, Defra does not hold information centrally on the various other techniques that might be in use and I regret that I cannot answer the question in more detail without incurring disproportionate cost.

Coastal Defences

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of (a) environmental impact assessments, (b) permissions and (c) licences for (i) remedial work to existing coastal defences in Suffolk and (ii) emergency reinforcement work to existing coastal defences in Suffolk has been in each of the past five years.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency estimates their expenditure on gaining permissions, licences and environmental impact assessments as (a) £2,000 per year for remedial works (largely staff costs linked to consultation with external bodies such as English Nature regarding the annual maintenance programme); and (b) £4,000 per year for emergency reinforcement works (staff costs seeking permissions such as Food & Environment Protection Act licences, English Nature consents, plus collaborative survey work to inform operational work).

Coastal Defences

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long she expects the existing coastal defences at Sizewell to remain viable.

Elliot Morley: I understand the Environment Agency is responsible for 0.5 km of flood defence at Sizewell Village. This is dune with good beach, and stable at present. The shoreline management plan has a "hold the line" policy for this frontage.
	The power station is protected to a 1:10,000 standard. That is, it is protected against all events except those with a probability of occurrence in any one year of less than 1 in 10,000. I understand British Energy owns this defence and has regular liaison meetings with the agency. The environmental risks associated with the site flooding dictate that the defences must remain viable until such time as the site is deemed safe.
	North of the power station to Minsmere cliffs is an Environment Agency responsibility and defences are the subject of the current Minsmere sea defence study. Re-alignment of defences is a possibility in 60 to 100 years on current erosion rates. Present standards of defence range from 1:2–10 to 1:200. Residual life is currently considered to be between 25 years and 1,000 years for different sections. There are secondary defences in place for the defences of lower standard which provide a minimum of 40 to 60 years residual life.

Consultancy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many consultants her Department employs; and how much has been spent on consultants in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Defra came into being in June 2001. Information on consultancy expenditure prior to this date can only be identified at disproportionate cost. I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend, the member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 13 June 2005, Official Report, columns 35–36W, and on 21 July 2005, Official Report, columns 1962–63W.

Farm Regulation

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last met the president of the Country Land and Business Association to discuss the impact of regulations on farm businesses; and what the outcome was.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, last met with Mark Hudson, the president of the Country Land and Business Association on 17 May, when a number of issues were discussed.
	I have met Mr. Hudson on several occasions since then and discussed issues of concern to the Association's members.

Farm Subsidies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with tenant farmers and their representatives concerning the implications of delays in single farm payments.

Jim Knight: Officials from Defra and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) meet representatives of both the Tenant Farmers' Association (TFA) and the National Farmers' Union (NFU) on a regular basis and the two organisations are represented on RPA's Industry Forum, which last met on 19 October 2005. RPA also has a Single Payment Scheme (SPS) technical stakeholders' group which meets frequently, most recently on 9 September and 17 October 2005. Again, both the TFA and the NFU are represented on this group.
	There are also regular bilateral contacts with both organisations to discuss the implementation of the SPS and the associated implications for tenants and farmers in general. Lord Bach, Parliamentary Under-Secretary with responsibility for Sustainable Food and Farming, last met the TFA on 28 June 2005 and the President of the NFU on 28 September 2005 and Johnston McNeill, chief executive of RPA, met with the chief executive of the TFA on 29 September 2005.
	RPA announced in January of this year that SPS payments were most likely to commence in February 2006; well within the regulatory payment window which runs to June 2006. During the course of regular discussion with industry representatives RPA officials have re-affirmed that they remain on course to start payments in February.

Fuel Poverty

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of recent fuel price rises on fuel poverty; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: In our publication "The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy: Third Annual Progress Report" in July 2005, it was estimated that, excluding consideration of energy efficiency improvements, recent price increases are likely to have increased the number of vulnerable households in fuel poverty in England by up to 400,000 households between 2003 and 2006.
	It is critical that the impact of rising prices on fuel poverty is kept under close scrutiny. The Government is committed to doing this and considering whether further action may be needed. Moreover, together with colleagues across Government, we are working with energy companies in seeking to mitigate the impact of rising prices for the most vulnerable customers.

New Reservoirs

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many new reservoirs (a) have been built since 1997, (b) are in the course of construction and (c) are planned to be built; and what steps she is taking to ensure that future demand for water is met.

Elliot Morley: No major public water supply reservoirs have been built since 1997 or are currently under construction. In fulfilment of their duties to maintain adequate supplies of water, several water companies propose to enlarge existing reservoirs (three in total) or construct new ones (five in total). These proposals were set out in the 25-year water resources plans they prepared in 2004. The Environment Agency has advised Ministers about the appropriateness of these proposals and other measures to ensure security of supply in its report "Maintaining water supply", which was published in July 2004.
	The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to manage water resources in England and Wales. As part of the agency's management role it has national and regional water resource strategies which set out the pressures over the next 25 years. Water companies have water resource plans that complement the agency's strategies and seek to reconcile supply with anticipated demand. These water resource plans are produced voluntarily, every five years, at present but will become a statutory requirement under the provisions of the Water Act 2003.

Sewage Odour Minimisation

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to minimise odours before sewage is spread on farmland, with particular reference to Gravesham.

Elliot Morley: The storage of sewage sludge to be spread on land is regulated by the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, as amended. These allow exemptions from the need for a waste management licence, provided certain criteria are met. There is a an over-riding requirement that the activity should not endanger human health and not use processes or methods which could harm the environment or cause nuisance through noise or odours.
	Local authorities have a duty under Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with statutory nuisances. If satisfied that the odour amounts to a statutory nuisance, the local authority must serve a notice requiring the abatement of the nuisance or prohibiting or restricting its recurrence. The non-statutory Code of Practice for the Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge also makes recommendations relating to odour.
	Neither the Department nor the Environment Agency are aware of any particular issues in the Gravesham area relating to the storage or spreading of sewage sludge.

Timber

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will increase the penalties for persons and companies convicted of importing illegally felled timber.

Elliot Morley: Currently there is no legislation in place to prohibit importing illegal timber into the UK, with the exception of unlicensed species included on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
	However Government anticipate that a draft EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation, which will prohibit the entry into the EU of illegal timber products from countries that enter into Partnership Agreements with the European Union will be finalised soon. This will allow penalties to be imposed on the import of illegal timber for the first time.

Handcuffs (Exports)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2004, Official Report, column 3W, on handcuffs (exports), what criteria the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office used in making its decision that there should not be a prosecution.

Mike O'Brien: Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office used the criteria set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors in making its decision about prosecution in this case.
	The Code is a publicly available document, which gives guidance on general principles to be applied in determining whether cases should be prosecuted and the choice of charge.
	The Code Test has two stages. The first stage is consideration of the evidence. If the case does pass the evidential stage, prosecutors must decide if a prosecution is needed in the public interest.
	At the evidential stage prosecutors must be satisfied that there is enough evidence to provide a "realistic prospect of conviction" against each defendant on each charge. They must consider what the defence case may be, and how that is likely to affect the prosecution case.
	A realistic prospect of conviction is an objective test. It means that a jury or bench of magistrates or judge hearing a case alone, properly directed in accordance with the law, is more likely than not to convict the defendant of the charge alleged.
	Prosecutors must consider the public interest in each case where there is enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. A prosecution will usually take place unless there are public interest factors tending against prosecution which clearly outweigh those tending in favour. RCPO will only start a prosecution if a case has passed both tests.

Child Abuse

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidelines are available for teachers on how (a) to prevent and (b) to report child abuse; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 24 October 2005
	My Department has issued two guidance documents for all local authority education departments, schools (including independent schools) and FE colleges in England. "Safeguarding Children in Education", explains the duty, roles and responsibilities placed upon them by sections 157 and 175 of the Education Act 2002 to carry out their functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. "Safeguarding Children: Safer Recruitment and Selection in Education Settings" underpins on-line training introduced in response to Sir Michael Bichard's recommendation that head teachers and school governors should receive training to ensure that the process of appointing staff reflects the importance of safeguarding children.
	Guidance on what action practitioners, including those in the education service, should take if they have concerns that a child is being, or is at risk of being, abused is contained in 'What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused". In addition, "Child Protection: Preventing Unsuitable People from Working with Children and Young Persons in the Education Service" sets out the circumstances under which people may be reported to the Secretary of State on grounds of misconduct.
	The Government take the issue of child welfare and safety very seriously. We believe we need to make safeguarding everyone's business. Encouraging all organisations to have good systems and clear guidance in place forms a vital part of this. Local and national guidance for safeguarding and promoting welfare of children is based upon the provisions set out in the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. We are currently consulting on the Government's main guidance 'Working Together to Safeguard Children" which sets out the overarching systems and roles that different agencies play in keeping children safe.

Class Sizes

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the percentage of classes in key stage 1 over the statutory maximum class size of 30; what the percentage was in academic year 2004–05; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: In January 2005 1.2 per cent. of all key stage 1 classes had more than 30 pupils in them. In January 1997 the comparable figure was 29.0 per cent. and in January 2001 it was 2.3 per cent.
	The majority of key stage 1 classes over 30 have exceeded the statutory limit to accommodate permitted exceptions, such as children who move into an area after the start of term who would have a long journey to the next school with places available. However, my officials are contacting local authorities to discuss those classes which are illegally large, to ensure that the required measures are taken to reduce them.

Educational Attainment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initiatives her Department has launched to raise attainment in deprived areas; what the cost has been of such initiatives; and what evaluation she has made of their effectiveness.

Jacqui Smith: The Government's principal initiatives to raise attainment in deprived areas have been Excellence in Cities (EiC), Education Action Zones (EAZ), the Leadership Incentive Grant (LIG) and the London Challenge (LC). These initiatives provide additional funding for schools serving deprived communities. The total costs are provided in table 1.
	
		Table 1: Cost of programmes
		
			 £ million 
			  EiC EAZ LIG LC 
		
		
			 1989–99 — 7.6 — — 
			 1999–2000 26.9 22.2 — — 
			 2000–01 114.5 52.0 — — 
			 2001–02 253.0 59.0 — — 
			 2002–03 243.4 58.6 — — 
			 2003–04 278.2 53.8 175.4 16.0 
			 2004–05 309.2 36.2 195.6 22.1 
			 2005–06 374.5 — 202.5 22.4 
		
	
	Table 2 indicates the effectiveness of each programme in terms of increases in the percentage of pupils gaining five or more GCSEs at grade C and above. The year by year increases in schools in receipt of the various initiatives has always been above the national average trend. More formal evaluation of the initiatives is in progress, and will be published in due course.
	
		Table 2: Percentage of pupils gaining 5+ GCSEs/GNVQs at grades A*-C, by initiative
		
			  EiC(4) EAZ LIG LC(5) England(6) 
		
		
			 1999 36.3 29.1 — — 45.7 
			 2000 37.8 29.6 — — 47.0 
			 2001 39.8 31.1 — — 47.9 
			 2002 41.9 33.8 — 48.5 49.5 
			 2003 44.4 36.3 42.1 50.7 51.1 
			 2004 46.4 39.9 43.7 53.0 52.0 
			 Cumulative +10.1 +10.8 +1.6 +4.5 +6.3 
		
	
	(4) Schools in EiC partnerships.
	(5) All London secondary schools.
	(6) All maintained schools.

Pupil Absences

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made in reaching an agreement with travel companies on reducing the cost to families of holidays during school holiday periods to cut pupil absences in term-time; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are joining forces with the travel industry in a new campaign to encourage parents to book holidays during school holiday periods. Launching in November the "Every Lesson Counts" campaign will see the travel industry offer discounts and other incentives, such as free child places, to families making early bookings for the school holiday periods. Early booking holiday deals will be promoted through a dedicated "Every Lesson Counts" website which will provide a link to ABTA, Federation of Tour Operators and Visit Britain/Enjoy England sites where their members will be able to provide details of their offers for breaks—both in England and overseas—for the winter season and summer 2006.
	We recognise that supply and demand can lead to price differences in periods of peak demand. This is why we have struck this innovative partnership with the travel industry to remind parents that by booking early, families will have more choice, more opportunity to book affordable holidays and more reason to keep their children in school.

Schools

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the School Meals Review Panel.

Jacqui Smith: The recommendations of the School Meals Review Panel are made in their report—Turning the Tables: Transforming School Food.
	A public consultation on the Panel's recommendations to improve the nutritional standards of school meals was launched on 3 October 2005. The consultation period runs until 31 December 2005 and responses to the recommendations will be considered after this date.
	The final version of the standards will begin to come into force from September 2006.
	Alongside the publication of the report, the Government launched a national audit of school food provision in order to assess the progress that is already being made by local authorities and schools. The national audit, which began on 17 October, will cover issues such as how much is being spent on school meals ingredients, how they are provided, whether children get hot or cold meals and the percentage of pupils currently buying school meals.
	The Government are also investing £220 million over three years to help schools and local education authorities transform school meals through training and increased hours for cooks, equipment and a minimum spend on ingredients.
	Some £30 million for this year has already been allocated to local authorities—with a further £100 million over the following two years. £30 million was granted direct to schools as part of their Standards Fund allocations, with a further £60 million over the following two years.
	New or upgraded school kitchen facilities where fresh produce can be prepared and served will be made a priority as Government rebuilds and refurbishes every secondary school through its Building Schools for the Future programme. £5.5 billion is being spent in 2005–06 rising to £6.3 billion in 2007–08 to improve school buildings. An extra £650 million capital for primary schools were announced in the last Spending Review for 2008–09 and 2009–10.

SEN

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of its total budget was spent by Lancashire local education authority on special needs education in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is only available from 2000–01 onwards and is contained within the following table:
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs(7)(8) (£) Total education revenue expenditure(9)(£) Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with SEN as a percentage of total education revenue expenditure 
		
		
			 2000–01 79,766,000 511,182,000 15.6 
			 2001–02 82,826.000 543,019,000 15.3 
			 2002–03 86,666,000 569,835,000 15.2 
			 2003–04 99,347,000 608,216,000 16.3 
			 2004–05 106,320,000 641,611,000 16.6 
			 2005–06(10) 109,113,000 702,069,000 15.5 
		
	
	(7) Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as "notional SEN" and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools.
	(8) The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against "notional SEN" are only indicative of the amount that might be spent by schools on SEN. In 2005–06, Lancashire also budgeted £13.2 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the budgeted net expenditure on SEN as figures are not available prior to 2005–06.
	(9) Total education revenue expenditure is the combination of the total schools budget and the total local authority budget
	(10) Section 52 Budget 2005–06 data is provisional and is subject to change by the local authority.
	Note:
	Cash terms figures are as reported by the LEA and are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds and may not sum due to rounding.

Departmental NDPBs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings; and whether it is under a statutory requirement in each case.

Karen Buck: Details of the Department for Transport's advisory non-departmental public bodies can be found on the Cabinet Office's Public Bodies Directory at: http://www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/ndpb/ndpb.nsf
	(a) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee has held public meetings in the past, but this is not a statutory requirement.
	(b) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee has conducted public consultation exercises in the past, but this is not a statutory requirement.
	(c) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee does consult stakeholders in the transport sector including organisations with commercial interests.
	The Commission for Integrated Transport also consults stakeholders in the transport sector as a part of its research programme; on occasion this includes organisations with commercial interests. This is not a statutory requirement.
	(d) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee has a register of Members' interests, but this is not a statutory requirement. The register of Members' interests is not published and is available from the Secretariat on request.
	The Commission for Integrated Transport publishes a register of members' interests in its annual report, but this is not a statutory requirement.
	(e) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee does not publish agendas for meetings.
	The Commission for Integrated Transport publishes agendas for its plenary meetings, but this is not a statutory requirement.
	(f) The Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee publishes minutes of Main Committee meetings on its website at http://www.dptac.gov.uk/about.htmminutes, but this is not a statutory requirement. Minutes of other meetings may in some cases be available under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
	The Commission for Integrated Transport publishes minutes of its plenary meetings, but this is not a statutory requirement.

EU Aviation and Emissions Trading Conference

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library (a) copies of all papers circulated at and (b) the final declaration of the conference convened by the UK presidency of the European Union on Aviation and Emissions Trading held on 26 to 27 September.

Karen Buck: The conference was an informal event aimed at bringing together Transport and Environment officials from across Europe to discuss aviation and climate change. It provided an opportunity to update people on the work done by the European Commission to date and consider the current scientific understanding of aviation's impact on climate change.
	In advance of the conference delegates were sent an electronic copy of the European Commission's feasibility study on including aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme: "Giving Emissions Trading Wings" by CE Delft (2005). This report is freely available from the European Commission's website at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/aviation_en.htm
	As the conference was not an official UK presidency event, there was no final declaration, however, conclusions from the conference were drawn. Copies of these will be placed in the House Library alongside copies of the programme for the event and the CE Delft report.

Public Transport Schemes (Lancashire)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total Government spending on public transport schemes in Lancashire has been in each year since 1997.

Karen Buck: Much of the Government spending related to rail cannot be readily disaggregated to local authority level.
	The funding provided directly to Lancashire county council since 1997 that can be used for spending on public transport schemes is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Lancashire county council nature of funding 
			  Integrated transport block Targeted bus grants(15) 
		
		
			 1998–99 2.203 1.233 
			 1999–2000 3.833 1.139 
			 2000–01 4.200 1.411 
			 2001–02 11.200 2.212 
			 2002–03 11.922 1.575 
			 2003–04 12.051 3.777 
			 2004–05 13.033 1.238 
			 2005–06 11.000 1.29 
		
	
	(15) Includes rural bus subsidy grant and rural bus challenge funding.
	The integrated transport block funding can be used for local highways or public transport capital projects. It has been for Lancashire to determine how that allocation has been spent, in line with its local transport plan and its priorities. On average councils spend about one third of this block on public transport schemes.

Road Traffic Offences

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons that (i) men and (ii) women commit offences under sections (A) 14(3), (B) 15(2) and (C) 15(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: These offences relate to the failure of adults to use seat belts in motor vehicles and to driver responsibility for the use of seat belts by children less than 14 years of age in the front or rear of motor vehicles.
	The Department commissioned TRL Report 222, "The characteristics and attitudes of adult non-wearers of rear restraints", which was published in 1998. That provided information on attitudes towards rear seat belt use by men and women. This has been used to inform the Department's publicity campaign. The report is available to purchase from TRL via their website at http://www.trl.co.uk/store/report_detail.asp?srid=2395.
	TRL also publish reports of twice-yearly observational surveys for the Department of seat belt wearing by adults and children. A summary of the results of these surveys from 1982 is available at http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/statistics/belt0504.htm. The latest report Lf2096 is available free at http://www.trl.co.uk/store/report_list.asp?pid=211&pno=5&searchtext. That contains the references to earlier reports in the series. These reports provide information by gender and age.
	The Department undertook research in March 2002, aimed at identifying the most compelling message that will encourage seat belt wearing. This has enabled the Department to target its messages on seat belt wearing.

Travel Concessions

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will estimate the annual cost of extending a national half-fare travel concession to young people aged (a) 14 to 16, (b) 14 to 18 and (c) 14 to 21 years;
	(2)  how much funding the Government have provided to local authorities to help fund travel concessions for young people aged between 16 and 19 years in full-time education in each year since 1997;
	(3)  what the estimated (a) total cost and (b) cost to central Government of extending concessionary fare schemes for local public transport to (i) those over 60 and the disabled in England and (ii) young people up to age 19 in full-time education in England has been in each year since 1997.

Karen Buck: In 2001 the Government introduced a statutory minimum entitlement for off-peak local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people in England and provided £54 million to fund the extra costs. A further £50 million was provided in 2003–04 to fund the entitlement for men aged 60–64. The Government will provide an extra £350 million in 2006–07 to fund the cost to local authorities of the improvement in the statutory minimum entitlement from half to free-fares. Local authorities, and Passenger Transport Executives, have the freedom to offer enhancements to the statutory minimum, the costs of which are included in the figures presented in the table.
	There is no statutory requirement on local authorities to provide concessionary fares for young people up to age 19 in full-time education in England, therefore no specific funding. Local authorities can offer such concessions at their own discretion based on local needs and financial priorities. The costs of providing discretionary concessionary travel schemes for the young are shown below.
	
		
			   £ million 
			  Concessionary fare reimbursement for travel by the elderly Concessionary fare reimbursement for travel by the young 
		
		
			 1997–98 303.1 51.9 
			 1998–99 308.8 47.3 
			 1999–2000 324.1 45.8 
			 2000–01 331.6 51.3 
			 2001–02 351.4 50.2 
			 2002–03 360.1 51.7 
			 2003–04 369.0 51.0 
			 2004–05 Not yet available. 
		
	
	It is not possible to breakdown the concessionary fare reimbursement figures by different age groups.

Civil Service Pensions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on proposed changes to the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

John Hutton: The consultation document "Building a sustainable future" set out the Cabinet Office's proposals to reform the Civil Service Pension Scheme. The consultation finished on 4 March 2005. Cabinet Office has received over 6,200 responses to the consultation. This included some 6,000 responses from scheme members (139 of which were sent via their local Member of Parliament), 45 responses from civil service employers and pension administrators, and 138 responses from 11 unions and their sub-branches.
	Since then the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West and Hessle (Alan Johnson) has chaired three special meetings of the Public Services Forum (PSF) to discuss public sector pension reform. At the third and final meeting, which took place on the 18 October 2005, the Government and trade unions agreed a common set of principles for public service pension reform. Discussion on changes to the Civil Service Pension Scheme for existing and new employees will now take place between the Cabinet Office and the civil service unions in accordance with the common set of agreed principles.
	The Cabinet Office plans to publish a follow-up document summarising the consultation responses, and the proposed way forward, following the conclusion of discussions with the civil service unions.

Emergency Care

Chris Mole: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to improve access to emergency care in the community.

Liam Byrne: The Department is committed to making emergency and urgent care as local and accessible as possible. Community based general practitioners, out-of-hours providers, minor injury units and walk-in centres already provide the bulk of such care. Improving access further is a key part of the current public consultation "Your Health, Your Care, Your Say".

St. George's Hospital, Tooting

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change has been in the funding of St. George's Hospital, Tooting since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Audited accounts of the St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 1997–98 to 2004–05 show that income at the trust has risen by £130.4 million from £173.1 million in 1997–98 to £333.5 million in 2004–05.

Abortions (Overseas Residents)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the countries of residence of women listed as overseas residents in the abortion statistics for the last year for which information is available.

Caroline Flint: This information is contained in table 13 of the Department's statistical bulletin 2005/11 "Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2004", which is available at on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/4/11/75/74/04117574.pdf. Copies are also available in the Library.

Cancer

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients below the age of 50 years the Essex strategic health authority area have been treated for breast cancer.

Rosie Winterton: The data for the year 2003–04 shows that Essex strategic health authority has treated 344 national health service patients below the age of 50 years for breast cancer.

Cancer

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of cancer patients started their treatment (a) within 31 days of a decision to treat and (b) within 62 days of an urgent general practitioner referral in (i) England, (ii) each strategic health authority and (iii) each NHS trust in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: In England during the first quarter of 2005–06, 92.6 per cent, of patients started treatment within 31 days of cancer diagnosis, and 77.1 per cent. of patients started treatment within 62 days of urgent referral by their general practitioner.
	Information on percentages of cancer patients who start their treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat and within 62 days of ah urgent GP referral in each strategic health authority and each national health service trust has been placed in the Library.

Cancer

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new initiatives she plans to reduce the incidence of lung cancer in women.

Rosie Winterton: The 2004 Health Development Agency's publication, "The Smoking Epidemic in England" estimated that eight out of 10 female lung cancer deaths are smoking attributable. The best way to reduce the incidence of lung cancer in women is to persuade them to give up smoking.
	Since 1998, the Government have put in place a comprehensive strategy to tackle smoking to reduce the deaths caused by smoking. The strategy focuses on action to discourage people from ever starting and help for all smokers, of whatever age and sex, to quit. We are aiming to create a climate where non-smoking is the norm.
	We have banned almost all tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion. Our highly effective national anti-smoking education campaign is designed to reach all. People who wish to give up smoking can get help from the national health service stop smoking services. In 2004–05, 57 per cent. of people accessing the NHS Stop Smoking Services were women. We set out proposals to bring in new measures to improve the way the NHS helps smokers to give up in our White Paper, "Choosing Health". We will reduce exposure to second hand smoke and, through a staged approach, make almost all enclosed public places and workplaces smoke-free. In addition, this year we ran an education campaign on the impact of smoking targeted at young women.
	Together this strategy has helped reduce smoking rates in women in England from 26 per cent. in 1998 to 24 per cent. in 2004.

Cardiac Specialists (Kent)

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors specialising in cardiac care there are in Kent hospitals.

Caroline Flint: The number of doctors specialising in cardiac care in Kent hospitals is shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Medical staff within the cardiology specialty by specified organisations, as at 30 September 2004
		
			   Number (headcount) Full-time equivalents (fte) 
		
		
			 Total for specified organisations  30 26 
			 Dartford and Gravesham Acute Health Services National
			 Health Service Trust RN7 3 3 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust RW 13 12 
			 East Kent NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust RTM — — 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust RWF 10 7 
			 Medway NHS Trust RPA 4 4 
			 West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust FOG — — 
		
	
	'—' Denotes zero.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Darent Valley Hospital

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress Darent Valley Hospital has made towards achieving its waiting lists target in each department.

Caroline Flint: The Department collects information on hospital waiting lists targets at national health service trust level. The latest data on progress that is being made by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust in achieving its waiting lists target in each department is shown in the table.
	
		Waiting times for first outpatient appointment, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, quarter ended June 2005
		
			 Weeks 
			   GP written referral requests not yet seen at the end of quarter who have been waiting: 
			 Specialty Specialty name Less than 4 4 to <8 8 to <13 13 to <17 17 to <21 21 plus 
		
		
			 100 General surgery 234 177 45 6 0 0 
			 101 Urology 73 112 68 3 0 0 
			 110 Trauma and Orthopaedics 171 252 137 11 0 0 
			 300 General medicine 104 109 80 4 0 0 
			 303 Haematology (clinical) 6 18 28 1 0 0 
			 320 Cardiology 15 50 38 1 0 0 
			 400 Neurology 0 20 15 4 0 0 
			 410 Rheumatology 59 46 97 8 0 0 
			 420 Paediatrics 35 49 51 3 0 0 
			 430 Geriatric medicine 25 17 8 1 0 0 
			 502 Gynaecology 158 171 42 2 0 0 
			 999 All specialties 880 1,021 609 44 0 0 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08.

Diet

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average daily consumption of fruit and vegetable portions has been in each of the last five years for (a) adults and (b) children.

Caroline Flint: The average daily consumption of fruit and vegetable portions is shown in the tables for adults and children. The Department is unable to provide data for the last five years, as questions on fruit and vegetable consumption were first included in 2001. Data for 2003 is the most recent available.
	
		Average fruit and vegetable portion consumption for adults, by gender England—2001 to 2003
		
			  Men Women Total 
		
		
			 Adults, aged 16 and over
			 2001 3.3 3.5 3.4 
			 2002 3.3 3.5 3.4 
			 2003 3.3 3.6 3.4 
			 
			 Bases
			 2001 6,966 8,681 15,647 
			 2002 3,317 4,077 7,394 
			 2003 6,602 8,234 14,836 
		
	
	
		Average fruit and vegetable portion consumption for children, by gender England—2001 to 2003
		
			  Boys Girls All children 
		
		
			 Children aged 5 to 15
			 2001 2.4 2.6 2.5 
			 2002 2.5 2.6 2.6 
			 2003 2.4 2.6 2.5 
			 
			 Bases (weighted)
			 2001 1,498 1,560 3,058 
			 2002 3,367 3,236 6,603 
			 2003 1,301 1,342 2,643 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Because the selection of children is limited to two per family, figures and bases for children have been weighted to compensate for the non-selection of other children in families of three or more.
	2. One portion of fruit or vegetables is 80 grams.
	Source:
	Health Survey for England 2001—fruit and vegetable consumption. Data can be found in trend tables AD13_F&V and CH8_F&V on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PublishedSurve y/HealthSurveyForEngland/HealthSurvevResults/HealthSurvey ResultsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4098913&chk=4DPdlh

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many copies of the Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, A Public Consultation have been produced; at what cost; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  which organisations were sent copies of the Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, A Public Consultation; how many were sent to each; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  for what reasons her Department chose 16 August to publish the Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, A Public Consultation; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  if she will place in the Library responses to the Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, A Public Consultation; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The consultation document was published as soon as it was ready, taking account of the wider timetable of Government announcements and the need to respond to the Science and Technology Committee's report on "Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law". In producing the consultation document, account was taken of a wide range of views and opinions, including the oral and written evidence submitted to the Science and Technology Committee's year-long inquiry, reaction to the Committee's recommendations, and issues raised over a number of years about the regulation of assisted reproduction and embryology.
	In order to encourage a wide range of responses to the consultation, copies of the document have been made available in variety of ways, including by viewing or downloading from the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/consulations/fs/en, or by request from the Department's publications order line on 08710 555 455. Copies have also been issued by the Department directly to key stakeholders and other people and organisations who have expressed an interest in the review. This variety of ways of access means that it is not possible to say exactly which organisations have received the document.
	3,020 copies of the document have been printed, at a cost of £9,395. After the consultation, we will place a copy of the responses in the Library.

NHS Services (Pudsey)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed by the NHS in health facilities serving Pudsey in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2004.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine, community health services (HCHS) doctors, general medical practitioners, HCHS qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff and GP practice nurses for selected organisations, as at 1997, 2001 and 2004
		
			 Numbers (headcount) 
			  East Leeds Primary Care Trust (PCT) Leeds Community and Mental Health Service Teaching National Health Service Trust Leeds Health Authority Leeds North East PCT Leeds North West PCT 
		
		
			 1997  
			 All staff (19)— 1,560 734 (19)— (19)— 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors (19)— 160 464 (19)— (19)— 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) (19)— 160 21 (19)— (19)— 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) (19)— (19)— 443 (19)— (19)— 
			   
			 Nurses (19)— 1,400 270 (19)— (19)— 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (19)— 1,400 7 (19)— (19)— 
			 GP practice nurses (19)— (19)— 263 (19)— (19)— 
			   
			 2001  
			 All staff 157 1,726 23 160 175 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors 100 210 14 102 117 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) (19)— 210 14 (19)— (19)— 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) 100 (19)— (19)— 102 117 
			   
			 Nurses 57 1,516 9 58 58 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (19)— 1,516 9 (19)— (19)— 
			 GP practice nurses 57 (19)— (19)— 58 58 
			   
			 2004  
			 All staff 554 997 (19)— 359 417 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors 148 177 (19)— 117 141 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) 42 177 (19)— 2 4 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) 106 (19)— (19)— 115 137 
			   
			 Nurses 406 820 (19)— 242 276 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 354 820 (19)— 178 208 
			 GP practice nurses 52 (19)— (19)— 64 68 
		
	
	
		
			  Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Leeds West PCT South Leeds PCT United Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service 
		
		
			 1997  
			 All staff (19)— (19)— (19)— 3,053 (19)— 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors (19)— (19)— (19)— 695 (19)— 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) (19)— (19)— (19)— 695 (19)— 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			   
			 Nurses (19)— (19)— (19)— 2,358 (19)— 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff (19)— (19)— (19)— 2,358 (19)— 
			 GP practice nurses (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			   
			 2001  
			 All staff 5,781 96 133 (19)— 88 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors 1,310 62 86 (19)— (19)— 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) 1,310 (19)— (19)— (19)— (19)— 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) (19)— 62 86 (19)— (19)— 
			   
			 Nurses 4,471 (19)— (19)— (19)— 88 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 4,471 34 4 (19)— 88 
			 GP practice nurses (19)— 34 47 (19)— (19)— 
			   
			 2004  
			 All staff 6,376 264 347 (19)— 6 
			 Of which  
			 All doctors 1,588 70 125 (19)— (19)— 
			 Of which  
			 HCHS doctors(20) 1,588 4 30 (19)— (19)— 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) (19)— 66 95 (19)— (19)— 
			   
			 Nurses 4,788 194 222 (19)— 6 
			 Of which  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 4,788 149 173 (19)— 6 
			 GP practice nurses (19)— 45 49 (19)— (19)— 
		
	
	(19) Denotes data not applicable.
	(20) Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part-time in hospitals, personal medical service (PMS) salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Note:
	All data as at 30 September, except 1997 GP and practice nurse data which is as at 1 October.
	Sources:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre GMS and PMS statistics.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre medical and dental workforce census.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre non-medical workforce census.

Obesity

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on obesity management in the NHS in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: Information on the amount spent by the national health service on obesity management is not held centrally. However, the National Audit Office report, "Tackling Obesity in England", published in 2001, estimated that the direct cost to the NHS of treating obesity and its consequences in 1998 was £480 million. As part of its inquiry into obesity, the Health Select Committee estimated that in 2002 the direct cost to the NHS was between £990 million and £1,225 million.

Pregnancy Health

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to help pregnant women who (a) smoke and (b) are addicted to drugs; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Midwives provide the majority of care for pregnant mothers as well as advice and support on healthy lifestyles including smoking and drug misuse.
	The Government aim to reach pregnant smokers through the ongoing "partners" education campaign, which provides information about smoking, the benefits to the health of both mother and baby in quitting, and how partners and families can provide support.
	The national health service stop smoking services were allocated an additional £6 million in 2001–02 to 2002–03 to target smoking in pregnancy and to provide specialist advisers to help pregnant smokers to quit. Pregnant women can also access our free, dedicated helpline for all smokers on 0800 169 0 169 and the specific helpline for pregnant women smokers on 0800 169 9 169. Local services are expected to liaise with Sure Start to ensure the most effective delivery of service to the women who need it most.
	Drug misuse among pregnant women is identified through ante-natal care from their midwife or local general practitioner. Where identified, an assessment is carried out and the appropriate treatment and support arranged both during and post pregnancy. To deliver high quality care services for pregnant drug users, there is a co-ordinated approach between drug services, maternity services and children's health and social care services. Pregnant women are a vulnerable group as far as drugs misuse is concerned and where appropriate will be given top priority.
	Obstetric departments are advised to develop good links with local drug specialists and GPs and the local social services. All local statutory authorities should have a written policy about drug misusing parents and all professionals involved should be aware of this policy.

Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn's Disease

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to draw up guidelines on treatments and standards of care for individuals suffering from (a) ulcerative colitis and (b) Crohn's disease.

Liam Byrne: We have no plans to draw up guidelines for the treatment of those suffering from ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
	The standards for health and social care for such sufferers are covered by the national service framework for long-term conditions, published on 10 March 2005, and "Supporting People with Long-term Conditions—An NHS and Social Care Model to support innovation and integration" published on 5 January 2005.

Carer's Allowance

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost of the carer's allowance was in each of the past 10 years; how many people received the carer's allowance in each year; and what the average received was.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the following tables.
	
		Table 1: Invalid care allowance/carer's allowance
		
			  Expenditure (£ million) Case load(21) (Thousand) Average weekly amount (£) 
		
		
			 1995–96 618 308 37.2 
			 1996–97 738 349 38.7 
			 1997–98 748 371 39.6 
			 1998–99 786 373 41.4 
			 1999–2000 825 375 43.1 
			 2000–01 854 376 43.5 
			 2001–02 932 391 44.8 
			 2002–03 995 408 45.1 
			 2003–04 1,051 428 45.6 
			 2004–05 1,102 444 45.9 
		
	
	(21) Case load includes suspended cases, cases that are not in receipt of payment because their entitlement is under investigation.
	
		Table 2: Invalid care allowance/carer's allowance
		
			  Expenditure (£ million) Case load(22) (Thousand) Average weekly amount (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03 995 397,000 45.1 
			 2003–04 1,051 416,000 45.6 
			 2004–05 1,102 432,000 45.9 
		
	
	(22) Case load excludes suspended cases. Case load estimates on this basis are not available prior to 2002–03.
	Notes:
	1. The average weekly amount is rounded to the nearest ten pence.
	2. The case load estimates and average weekly amounts are financial year averages and derived from quarterly statistical data extracts. Figures for the years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are estimated due to lack of suitable information.
	3. The case load estimates exclude cases where an allowance is not paid despite entitlement due to the overlapping benefit rules.
	4. The expenditure figures until 2003–04 are out-turn while the figure for 2004–05 is estimated out-turn. The expenditure figures are based on data from the departmental accounting systems.
	5. The case load and average weekly amounts, when grossed up to annual totals do not precisely match the expenditure. This is because the statistical data have only five "snapshots" which are used to estimate annual averages. Furthermore, these snapshots fail to capture a number of new cases that are in process at any point time.
	6. The figures quoted are marginally different to those previously published due to methodological changes and some minor adjustments.

Disability Benefit

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) women and (b) men are claiming disability benefit in (i) the Tees Valley and (ii) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Anne McGuire: The administration of disability living allowance and attendance allowance is a matter for the chief executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Mr Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Terry Moran to Dr. Ashok Kumar, dated 25 October 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, to reply to your question concerning how many women and men are claiming disability benefit in the Tees Valley and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.
	The information requested is as follows:
	
		Disability living allowance and attendance allowance by gender in the Tees Valley at 28 February 2005
		
			 Thousand 
			  Disability living allowance Attendance allowance 
			  All Male Female All Male Female 
		
		
			 Tees Valley 39.4 20.5 18.9 15.5 5.0 10.5 
			
			 Darlington 5.1 2.8 2.4 2.4 0.7 1.7 
			 Hartlepool 6.3 3.2 3.1 2.3 0.8 1.5 
			 Middlesbrough 9.5 5.0 4.6 3.3 1.1 2.1 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 8.8 4.4 4.4 3.6 1.2 2.4 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 9.7 5.1 4.6 3.9 1.1 2.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Cases where payment of benefit has been suspended are excluded.
	2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	3. Totals may not sum due to founding.
	4. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	5. Numbers marked "*" are based on a very few sample cases and are subject to a high degree of sampling variation. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
	6. Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
	7. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
	
		Disability living allowance and attendance allowance, by gender, in the parliamentary constituency of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland at February 2005
		
			 Thousand 
			  Disability living allowance Attendance allowance 
			  All Male Female All Male Female 
		
		
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 5.3 2.9 2.4 2.2 0.7 1.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A small number of claimants may be getting both AA and DLA.
	2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.
	3. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	4. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	5. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
	6. Cases where payment of benefit has been suspended are excluded.
	7. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
	Source:
	DWP, Information Centre (IFD), 5 per cent. data
	I hope this is helpful.

Disability Benefit

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disability living allowance applications have been (a) approved, (b) rejected and (c) approved subject to a reduction in components (on increase) in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the table.
	
		Disability living allowance: numbers of new claims allowed and disallowed; numbers of awards reduced, increased or varied on supersession, revision or appeal; and numbers of renewal claims in which the award was lower or higher or varied from the award made on a previous claim in Great Britain in 2004 and 2005(25)
		
			  2004 2005 
		
		
			 New claims allowed 210,095 132,550 
			 New claims disallowed 234,180 149,730 
			 Awards reduced on supersession or revision 3,100 1,810 
			 Awards increased on supersession or revision 54,205 35,105 
			 Awards varied on supersession or revision 10,070 4,230 
			 Awards reduced by an Appeal Tribunal 215 130 
			 Award increased by an Appeal Tribunal 9,550 6,290 
			 Awards varied by an Appeal Tribunal 500 230 
			 Awards on renewal claims which were lower than the award made on a previous claim 30,305 22,430 
			 Awards on renewal claims which were higher than the award made on a previous claim 14,405 9,660 
			 Awards on renewal claims which varied from the award made on a previous claim 37,605 21,740 
		
	
	(25) Figures for 2004 are for the calendar year (January to December), and those for 2005 are for the period from January 2005 to August 2005.
	Notes:
	1. The figures are taken from the Management Information System (MIS) computer system and are rounded to the nearest 5.
	2. The figures are for new claims allowed or disallowed and do not reflect any changes to the outcome of those claims resulting from any subsequent supersession, revision or appeal.
	3. "Supersessions" normally occur where there has been a change of circumstances since the date the award was made and a different decision is now appropriate.
	4. "Revision" refers to the change of an award because it is accepted that the award was incorrect.
	5. "Reduced" awards are those in which the rate of benefit payable is reduced, or the length of the award is reduced, or both on supersession, revision, appeal or following a renewal claim.
	6. "Increased" awards are those in which the rate of benefit payable is increased on supersession, revision, appeal or following a renewal claim.
	7. "Varied" awards are those in which either (a) entitlement to the care and mobility components of disability living allowance is changed on supersession, revision, appeal or following a renewal claim, but this does not result in any change to the amount of the allowance paid; or (b) entitlement is not changed on supersession, revision, appeal or following a renewal claim, but the period of the award is increased, or in the case of renewal claims, the award is for a longer period than the award made on a previous claim.
	8. "Renewal claims" are new claims to disability living allowance made by people receiving the benefit when their existing award is coming to an end. These claims enable them to renew their entitlement to the benefit and, if they remain entitled, help ensure there is no break in payment.
	9. Awards reduced, increased or varied by Appeal Tribunals include awards made on new claims, on supersession and on revision.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions, Information Centre, 100 per cent. data.

Pension Credit

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total (a) overpayment and (b) underpayment of pension credit; how many people have been affected; and what the average amount of over or under payment has been.

Stephen Timms: Latest estimates are available for pension credit overpayments for the first six months following the launch of pension credit in October 2003. Of the £2.46 billion pension credit paid between October 2003 and March 2004, approximately £150 million was overpaid and £47 million underpaid. On average over this period 511,000 incorrect awards were in payment at any one time, with approximately half of these due to customer error. Overpayments were an average of approximately £15 per week and underpayments were an average of approximately £11 per week.
	The Department aims to recover overpayments of entitlement without causing undue hardship to the customer. If an overpayment has occurred there are a number of options the Department can take to recover the money—including inviting the customer to repay on a voluntary basis, deductions from current benefits and in cases of fraud, civil proceedings. Each case is decided having regard to the particular circumstances of the customer.
	Notes:
	1. These figures are based on a sample of the pension credit caseload between October 2003 and March 2004 and are subject to sampling error.
	2. Overpayments and underpayments can be a result of official error, customer error or fraud.
	3. The sample of 2,500 cases used to calculate these figures is a "snapshot" of the pension credit caseload and does not track the progress of an award. Estimates of the average amount that a pension credit customer has been overpaid or underpaid during the life of their award, or of the total number of cases affected in the six month period as a whole, are not available.

Public Sector Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated total annual cost of all public sector pension schemes is for each year from 1988–89 to 2008–09; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: I have been asked to reply.
	Figures for Government spending on unfunded public service pensions that are included within Annually Managed Expenditure are published in table B.1 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005 (PESA). That table covers 1999–00 to 2007–08; a comparable table for earlier years is not available. The PESA table includes payments in respect of transfers of liabilities within central Government as well as payments to pensioners. It does not include unfunded police and firefighter pensions paid by local authorities, which are included within line D.623 of Table 5.3.4S of the United Kingdom National Accounts—the "Blue Book"—2005. Figures for spending on Local Government Pension Scheme benefits in England and Wales are available at:
	www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/data/table1.pdf.
	Real terms figures can be calculated using GDP deflators found on HM Treasury's website:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/gdp_defl ators/data_gdp_index.cfm

Export Controls

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what UK companies have sought licences for the export of machines or parts to be used in the construction of a security barrier by Israel; and if he will set out the terms of any licences granted;
	(2)  which UK companies have (a) sought and (b) been granted export licences for the export of equipment to be used in the construction of the security barrier by Israel.

Malcolm Wicks: Export licence applications are made to the Government in confidence and information on whether any UK company has applied for any such licence, and if so which, is therefore exempt from disclosure. I would make clear however, that construction machines or parts are not generally controlled under the UK's strategic export control regime unless they are military goods listed on the UK's Military List.
	I would also make clear that all applications to export strategic goods from the UK are carefully considered on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking into account the circumstances prevailing at the time and other previously announced Government policies. These criteria make specific reference, for example, to
	"the internal situation in the country of final destination, as a function of the existence of tensions or armed conflicts" (criterion 3),
	And
	"preservation of regional peace and stability" (criterion 4).
	Every export licence application is considered against each of the criteria; should it be judged that an export would contravene any of the criteria, for example risk of the goods being used for internal repression in the Occupied Territories, the application would be refused.
	The Government publishes detailed information on its export licensing decisions, by destination, in our Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls, which are available from the Libraries of the House and the DTI Export Control Organisation website (www.dti.gov.uk/export.control).

Nuclear Power

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the nuclear installations in the United Kingdom where nuclear materials accounting operates on a near real time basis.

Malcolm Wicks: Nuclear materials accountancy is used at UK nuclear sites to help meet statutory domestic regulations and international safeguards requirements. International safeguards requirements include the timely detection of diversion of civil nuclear material. This timeliness is a function of material type and form. Some nuclear installations therefore operate "near real time materials accountancy" to meet this safeguards requirement. Such accountancy systems are not designed for process control and are distinct from systems for monitoring the safety and security at the installation. Parts of the Sellafield MOX Plant (SMP) and THORP reprocessing plant at Sellafield operate "near real time materials accountancy".

Renewable Energy

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department spent on research into renewable energy technologies in (a) 2005 and (b) each of the previous five years.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI spend on renewable technologies for the six years from 1999–2000 to 2004–05 is set out in the following table.
	
		DTI new and renewable energy programme—external spend for each technology area by financial year from 1990–91 
		
			 rounded to nearest £000 
			 Programme area Spend  
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Total 
		
		
			 Bio wastes 25,000 56,000 13,000 42,000 259,000  395,000 
			 Biomass 1,585,000 1,267,000 1,333,000 1,595,000 1,346,000 974,222 8,100,222 
			 Embedded generation 596,000 589,000 776,000 1,424,000 725,000 1,105,640 5,215,640 
			 Fuel cells 1,168,000 1,410,000 1,249,000 1,200,000 1,701,000 4,907,430 11,635,430 
			 Geothermal—aquifers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Geothermal—hot dry rocks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hydro 138,000 60,000 130,000 200,000 85,000 0 613,000 
			 Solar 127,8000 126,4000 152,2000 4,485,000 3,131,000 1,970,340 13,650,340 
			 Tidal 0 27,000 305,000 1,996,000 2,914,000 1,268,530 6,510,530 
			 Wave 11,000 331,000 662,000 748,000 2,104,000  3,856,000 
			 Wind 801,000 913,000 1,248,000 1,428,000 1,395,000 1,459,600 7,244,600 
			 Total 5,602,000 5,917,000 7,238,000 13,118,000 13,660,000 11,685,762 57,220,762 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. From 2000–01, figures do not include spend on contracts placed direct by DTI.
	2. For 2004–05, highlighted cells show a combined spend for the two areas.
	3. It has not been possible to collate expenditure on oil and gas research in the time available.
	
		
			 £ 
			 DTI capital grant programmes 2002–03 2003–4 2004–5 Total 
		
		
			 Biomass (DTI and lottery spend) — 10,000 1,913,000 1,923,000 
			 Offshore wind capital grants — 0 15,000,000 15,000,000 
			 Clear skies community renewables 200,000 1,387,000 2,413,000 3,800,000 
			 Major PV demo programme 960,000 2,880,000 6,450,000 9,330,000 
			 Total 1,160,000 4,277,000 25,776,000 30,053,000

Renewable Energy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of solar power.

Malcolm Wicks: Support for the development of PV ranges from encouraging innovation in research and development to stimulating the market for PV systems.
	This is being achieved through:
	Collaborative research and development (R&D) programme of approximately £2.5 million per annum; last year the DTI allocated just over £2.7 million.
	£10 million already committed through Domestic and Large Scale Field Trials for a diverse set of PV installations from homes to offices.
	Extended Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme (PV MDP) with £31 million worth of capital grants available from 2002 to 2006. Continued support for PV will be directed through the low carbon buildings programme due to be implemented in financial year 2006–07. The programme is currently under development after consultation.
	Ministerial initiatives to encourage UK and foreign companies to invest in PV cell, module and system component manufacture in the UK, resulting in Romag and Sharp announcements in October 2003, and launch of integrated products such as the Marley Solar Tile and Solar Century's C21 PV root tile.
	Addressing planning, installer accreditation, network connection and metering issues through the work of various government-industry groups.
	Work with the IEA and the UK currently leads on Task 9 "Photovoltaic Services for Developing Countries".
	The DTI funded Clear Skies Programme provides grants for householders and community/not-for-profit organisations for the installation of solar hot water heating systems, www.clear-skies.org. This programme was extended to run until March 2006 and will also be superseded by the new low carbon buildings programme.

Debt Relief

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the details of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aspects of the G8 debt proposal to be finalised; if he will list those countries which may be eligible to benefit by having all their IMF debts up to 31 December 2004 irrevocably cancelled; when he expects they will receive this cancellation; and from which IMF funding streams this cancellation is to be paid for each of the countries concerned.

Ivan Lewis: At the meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee on 24 September, it was agreed that the managing director of the IMF would call the executive board together to complete its approval of the arrangements to deliver debt relief by the end of 2005.
	Eligible countries will be the HIPCs, as they reach completion point. For those countries who have already reached completion point we expect the same standards required for completion point to have been maintained, so that we can sure that countries will use the savings from debt relief in a poverty-reducing manner.
	A list of the HIPCs and the progress they have made in the HIPC initiative follows:
	Countries at completion point
	Benin
	Bolivia
	Burkina Faso
	Ethiopia
	Guyana
	Ghana
	Honduras
	Mali
	Mauritania
	Madagascar
	Mozambique
	Nicaragua
	Niger
	Rwanda
	Senegal
	Tanzania
	Uganda
	Zambia
	Total—18
	Countries between decision and completion points
	Burundi
	Cameroon
	Chad
	Democratic Rep. Congo
	Gambia
	Guinea
	Guinea-Bissau
	Malawi
	Sierra Leone
	Sao Tome and Principe
	Total—10
	Countries not yet at decision point
	Burma
	Central African Rep.
	Comoros
	Rep. of Congo
	Côte d'Ivoire
	Lao PDR
	Liberia
	Somalia
	Sudan
	Togo
	Total—10

Northern Ireland Housing Executive Tenants

Iris Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants are in receipt of child tax credits, broken down by (a) district housing executive area and (b) parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There is no information available on child tax credit receipts of Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants.
	Estimates for 2003–04 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards based on final family circumstances and incomes for 2003–04 are published in "Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. 2003–04 Geographical Analysis." This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by constituency with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 2004–05 are available on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the real annual growth rate of spending on public sector pensions for (a) 1997–98 to 2004–05 and (b) 2004–05 to 2008–09; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Figures for Government spending on unfunded public service pensions that are included within Annually Managed Expenditure are published in table B.1 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005 (PESA). That table covers 1999–2000 to 2007–08; a comparable table for earlier years is not available. The PESA table includes payments in respect of transfers of liabilities within central Government as well as payments to pensioners. It does not include unfunded police and firefighter pensions paid by local authorities, which are included within line D.623 of Table 5.3.4S of the United Kingdom National Accounts—the "Blue Book"—2005. Figures for spending on Local Government Pension Scheme benefits in England and Wales are available at:
	www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/data/table1.pdf.
	Real terms figures can be calculated using GDP deflators found on HM Treasury's website:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/gdp_defl ators/data_adp_index.cfm

SIPPS

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the English regional assemblies regarding the affordability of housing in rural areas after investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme is allowed on A-Day;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the affordability of housing in rural areas in England after investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme is allowed on A-Day;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the Building Societies Association regarding changes in the level of investment and savings in building societies as a consequence of allowing investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme from A-Day on 6 April 2006;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Executive regarding the affordability of housing in Wales and Scotland after investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme is allowed on A-Day;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the likely change in the number of self-invested personal pension schemes following A-day on 6 April 2006;
	(6)  what assessment he has made of the potential loss of tax revenue as a consequence of allowing investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme from 6 April 2006;
	(7)  what discussions he has had with the pensions industry on his proposal to allow investment in residential property as part of a self-invested personal pension scheme from A-day on 6 April 2006.

Ivan Lewis: The Government have consulted on the rules for pension simplification twice. The December 2002 consultation "Simplifying the taxation of pensions: Increasing Choice and flexibility for all", and the December 2003 consultation "Simplifying the taxation of pensions: the Government's proposals" set out the framework and the detail of how the simplification of the taxation of pensions would be implemented. Simplification has been widely welcomed by savers and the financial services and pensions industry.
	The regulatory impact assessment (RIA) "Simplifying the Taxation of Pensions" published in April 2004 set out an assessment of the potential impact of the whole pensions simplification package.
	The Government will keep this aspect of the tax system, as with all others, under review.

Tax Credits

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were in receipt of tax credits in Northern Ireland on 1 October, broken down by (a) tax credit and (b) parliamentary constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest snapshot estimates of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards at April 2005 are available in "Child and Working Tax Credits. April 2005", which can be found at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm. These are also available broken down by country and constituency in "Child and Working Tax Credits. Geographical Analyses. April 2005". This publication is available on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.

Tax Credits

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have received an overpayment of tax credits in Northern Ireland in each month since their introduction; and if he will make a statement on steps being taken to address this matter.

William McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of tax credit awards overpaid to people in Northern Ireland in 2004–05.

Dawn Primarolo: Annual estimates for 2003–04 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by country within the UK, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 2003–04 are published in "Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. 2003–04 Geographical Analysis." This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by country with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 2004–05 are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.

Tax Statistics

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers in each parliamentary constituency paid the (a) starting, (b) basic and (c) higher rate of tax in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest information on the estimated number of income taxpayers and their mean and median total income by constituency, is shown in table 3.15 "Total Income by Parliamentary Constituency" on the HM Revenue and Customs internet website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/table-3–15.xls.
	The income tax information is based upon the 2002–03 Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI).
	A breakdown of income taxpayers by tax bands is not available because the sample sizes for marginal rates at constituency level are very small and demonstrate a large variability year on year.

Workless Households

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of children have lived in households with two adults, neither in work in each year since 1982; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. David Laws, dated 25 October 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about children living with two adults, neither of whom is working. (20687)
	The attached table gives the proportion of children who live with a married or cohabiting couple in which neither partner is working, for the three month period to May of each year from 1992 to 2005. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Information for previous years is not available.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling error.
	
		Proportion of all children who live with a married or cohabiting couple in which neither partner is working(35)(36)(37): 1992 to 2005—United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted
		
			 March to May Per cent 
		
		
			 1992 10.1 
			 1993 10.0 
			 1994 10.0 
			 1995 9.0 
			 1996 8.6 
			 1997 7.4 
			 1998 6.7 
			 1999 6.2 
			 2000 5.7 
			 2001 5.5 
			 2002 5.7 
			 2003 4.9 
			 2004 5.0 
			 2005 5.1 
		
	
	(35) Children under 16 years old.
	(36) Children who live with a workless couple as a percentage of all children.
	(37) Estimates take into account couples with unknown economic status.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey

Council Tax

Richard Spring: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average band D council tax has been in Suffolk in each year since the establishment of the council tax.

Phil Woolas: Details of the average band D council tax in each authority in Suffolk in each year since establishment of the council tax are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. The details can be found under "Information For Taxpayers" at "Council Taxes" and "Historical Data Archive" which can be found at: http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ct.htm.

Departmental Finance

John Pugh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the phrase "corporate overhead" in the Department's business plan covers.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Corporate Overhead budget provides money for essential operational services, activities and costs which are procured or managed centrally. The chief elements of this are: accommodation costs; cost of capital and depreciation on our assets; provision of IT services; long-term sickness and maternity pay; and centrally funded training.

Housing

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average time taken to place homeless families in permanent accommodation was in each local authority in England in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Information reported quarterly by local authorities on their activities under homelessness legislation includes the number of households that, during the quarter, left temporary accommodation provided by the authority, or who were no longer registered as "homeless at home", by the length of stay in broad time bands. The information covers all households, which will include families but also single person households. These households will have been provided with some form of settled accommodation, or those who left the accommodation voluntarily, as well as those who ceased to be eligible or who became intentionally homeless.
	A table which presents the proportion of households in each time band during 2004–05 (the latest year available), for each local authority in England, has been placed in the Library of the House.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of (a) local authority housing, (b) housing association housing and (c) private rented accommodation reaches the Decent Homes Standard, broken down by region; and what proportion in each case he estimates will reach the standard by 2010.

Yvette Cooper: Data from the 2003 English House Condition Survey (EHCS) are currently only available at a national level. These data have been published in "EHCS 2003: key findings", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. A regional breakdown of 2003 EHCS will be published in due course.
	In the social sector, work completed and plans in place will take The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 90 per cent. of the way to meeting our target . We are now focusing our efforts on the remaining 10 per cent.
	In the private sector we are on course for 70 per cent. of vulnerable households to have decent homes by 2010.

Public Open Space

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recommended acreage of public open space has been set for each local authority; and how much is available in each local authority listed in descending order according to the greatest difference.

Phil Woolas: "Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation" sets out national (England-only) guidance on open space provision. It states that open space standards are best set locally, to take into account demographic profiles, the existing built environment and local needs. PPG 17 and the accompanying good practice guidance give local authorities advice on setting local standards on quality, quantity and accessibility. Local authorities are not required to make information on local open spaces available to central Government.

Supporting People Initiative

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Government (a) Departments and (b) agencies are involved in the administration of the Supporting People initiative.

Phil Woolas: Due to the cross cutting nature of supporting people there are five Government Departments directly involved in the administration of the programme. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is the lead Department responsible for managing and administering the programme. The four other Government Departments involved are the Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health, Home Office and Department for Education and Skills. No Government agencies are directly involved in the administration of supporting people, but the Audit Commission is responsible for undertaking inspections of local authorities to monitor implementation.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister for Immigration will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 29 July and 26 September regarding Mrs. Basma Rahman, Home Office Reference Number K1149709.

Tony McNulty: I replied to the right hon. Member on 24 October 2005.

Historical Sex Abuse Cases

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support is provided for alleged offenders of historical sex abuse during (a) the investigation and (b) the trial.

Paul Goggins: Those accused of historic child abuse are afforded the same level of support as those accused of other sexual crimes, including the services of a solicitor and their nominated counsel to advise and guide them through the investigation and trial.

Historical Sex Abuse Cases

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times in the last 10 years media coverage has been assessed to have prejudiced an investigation into historical sex abuse.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 907W, on identity cards, whether the estimate referred to of the likely rates of failure includes an analysis of the failure rate of the (a) facial, (b) fingerprint and (c) iris biometric technology.

Andy Burnham: The answer given to the earlier question focussed on the failure of the cards and the chips on the cards, not on the need to re-enrol biometrics which might arise if a person's physiological characteristics change after their biometrics are recorded as part of their enrolment into the Identity Cards scheme.

Police

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with chief constables on the restructuring of police forces; what terms of reference he has given to (a) chief constables and (b) police authorities in relation to the consultation on restructuring; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 17 October 2005
	The Home Secretary outlined the need for force restructuring as recommended in HMIC's report "Closing the Gap" to all chief officers and chairs of police authorities on 19 September.
	My right hon. Friend then wrote to all chief officers and chairs of police authorities in England and Wales on 22 September to set out his views on the development of options for force restructuring. To support the development of proposals for change, a toolkit and guidance to help forces with evaluating options has been sent to all forces and authorities.

Retina Identification

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2005, Official Report, column 1786W, in what proportion of iris identification checks a misidentification or other error is expected for those who (a) wear and (b) do not wear contact lenses.

Andy Burnham: Reports ("Independent Testing of Biometric Technology, Final Report" International Biometrics Group, May 2005) of recent iris recognition trials with a mix of contact lens wearers and non-contact lens wearers have demonstrated a recognition accuracy of 99.4 per cent. with a 0.00129 per cent. chance of an impostor being misidentified as another person.
	The effects of wearing contact lenses will be quantified in tests scheduled for next year, however we believe that most contact lens wearers will have no difficulty using iris recognition.

Street Drinking (Wales)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been introduced to reduce street drinking in Wales since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The Government take the problem of street drinking and antisocial behaviour very seriously. That is why we introduced local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and the Anti-social Behaviour Act in 2003—both of which cover England and Wales.
	Measures introduced to help reduce street drinking in Wales from 1997 include the "Lions Breath" project and the Targeting Alcohol Related Street Crime (TASC) initiative in Cardiff, the "Calling time on Violent Crime" initiative in Swansea and the national Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaigns which took place over the summer and Christmas period last year.
	The Violent Crime Reduction Bill, which is currently before Parliament and covers England and Wales, includes further measures like alcohol disorder zones, drinking banning orders and dispersal powers which may also have an impact on street drinking.

Travellers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on dealing with Travellers who are deemed to be staying on illegal sites.

Yvette Cooper: The joint Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM)/Home Office document, "Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Camping" provides comprehensive advice to local authorities, the police and other landowners on dealing with unauthorised encampments. This document can be found on the ODPM website at:
	http.//www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_027535.hcsp
	Where Travellers are occupying sites without planning permission local authorities have a range of discretionary enforcement powers available to them.